The Search for Hawaiki.

Percy Smith and his staunch friend and fellow-student of Polynesian problems, Edward Tregear, were the chief pillars for many a year of the Polynesian Society, of which Mr. Smith was the chief founder, and the journal editor for many years. He was its long-term president, and its great pioneer in field work among the islands of the Eastern Pacific. In 1897 he spent his first year of leisure after his long period of Government service in cruising from island to island in his enthusiastic search for the last Hawaiki of the Maoris. His knowledge of the Maori tongue was the basis on which he soon built up his Polynesian linguistics, and he found many willing helpers among whites and natives in the Islands. The result of his enquiries clearly showed that the chief homes of our Maoris before their ancestors migrated to this country in their skilfully-navigated sailing-craft were Tahiti and its neighbouring islands of Porapora (now popularly and carelessly called Borabora), Taha'a and Raiatea (Maori Rangiatea). On their way to New Zealand most of these daring sailors called at Rarotonga. The fruits of Mr. Smith's researches, which took him also to Samoa, were embodied in his book, “Hawaiki,” the standard work of reference on the subject; it has gone through several editions.